Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Music; Read at Annual Dinner of Harvard Musical Association, 1874" by Christopher Pearse Cranch is an eloquent tribute to the art of music, portraying it as an evolving muse with transformative powers. The poem charts the journey of Music from its rudimentary beginnings to its sophisticated developments, celebrating its profound impact on the human soul.

The poem initiates with an anthropomorphic depiction of Music as a "Heavenly Maid," young and unsophisticated in her origins. Cranch uses humor to convey her initial limitations: "She did not sing as poets say she sung," and had to make do with "rude barbaric" instruments. The poet's recounting of Music's primitive beginnings is not disparaging but rather emphasizes the antiquity and universality of the art form, reminding us that even in its nascent stages, it had the power to move the human spirit.

As the poem progresses, Cranch contrasts Music's immaturity with the grand accomplishments of her "sister arts" in Greece, symbolized by the Phidian Jove and the Parthenon. This reference establishes the historical and cultural context of Music's development. While sculpture and painting had attained monumental proportions during the Greek era, Music was still in its formative years, limited in its means of expression.

The poet cleverly uses the metaphor of Cinderella to symbolize Music's humble beginnings and ultimate rise. Just as Cinderella knew her prince would eventually come, Music also prophesies "Her far-off days of immortality." Cranch thus imbues Music with a sense of inevitable destiny, capturing the timeless nature of its appeal.

As the narrative moves into the modern age, Cranch provides an inventory of instruments developed over centuries, acknowledging the vast spectrum of means that now allow for Music's expression. This evolution culminates in the muse being surrounded by master composers like Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart, who serve as avatars of her matured form.

The poem's finale offers an ecstatic glimpse into the emotional and spiritual power of music. Music is portrayed as a transcendent force that elevates us "Out of the discords of the common day." This ethereal quality of music is what makes it, according to Cranch, "greater than all words of mine can say," an art form that transcends linguistic barriers and communicates the "universal language of the skies."

Moreover, Cranch touches upon the intersection of art and spirituality, noting how Music grants us a glimpse into eternity, making us feel that "Life is Immortality." This notion of Music as a vessel for spiritual experience encapsulates the transcendentalist beliefs prominent during Cranch's time, where art was often seen as a gateway to higher spiritual understanding.

In sum, Cranch's poem serves both as a historical overview of Music's journey and a testament to its enduring, universal power to touch the human soul. It is an eloquent recognition of Music as a constantly evolving yet timeless force, capable of elevating the human experience beyond the mundane and into the realm of the divine.

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